Device for washing oil wells



Patented NQV 2L 1922.

E. 0. AND R. T. MITH.

DEVICE FOR WASHING OIL WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I919.

A; gi 251/3050 W /1 Patented Nov. 2t, 1922.

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EIDWA 1). SMITH AND REBAJEI TILLIERY SMKTH, 01F HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS To I TEEUDOEE E. GUY, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

DEVICE F0132 WASHING OIL WELLS.

Application filed April 7, WW. Serial lilo. 288,166.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we EnwAnn D. SMITH and REBAH TILLERY SMITH, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Houston, county of Harris, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Devices for Washlng Oil Wells, of which the following is a specification.

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v and The invention relates to a device for washing, cleaning and sterilizing oil wells, and has for itssobject the provision of a devlce which will be durable and ctlicient in use.

A. further object is the provision of means whereby the oil sands of an oil Well may be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized, and whereby the crystallized parafiin may be quickly and thoroughly removed from the Y sands of the oil well.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by Fi 6, is a top plan view of a washer secure to the lower end of the device.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a steam pipe 8, the lower end of wh1ch is threaded and adapted to receive an interiorly threaded annular disc 9, whlch 1 s beveled on its upper surface. Inserted 1n the lower end of the pipe 8 is a rod 11, which is bifurcated at its upper end to form the elements 12 which are securely fastened to the inner lateral walls of the pipe 8 by suitable fastening means 13. The lower end of the rod 11 is threaded, and co-operating with the threaded end thereof is a nut 14/ and a lockmg nut 14:. Loosely mounted on the rod 11, and adapted for slidable movement thereon relat1vely to the disc 9, is a disc 10 which 1s beveled at its under surface. Positioned loosely on the rod 11, adjacent the lower face of the disc 10, is a washer l7. Positioned on the rod 11, adjacent the washer i7, is a spiral spring 16, the lower end of which engages with a washer 15, which is also loosely mounted'on the rod 11. The nut 14 and the locking nut it serve to retain these parts in their assembled position on the rod 11.

In operation, a steam boiler is positioned at or near the entrance to the well, to which boiler is connected thepipe 8. The steam in the boiler is carried at a heavy pressure'and is conducted into the oil well under heavy pressure. 4

As is readily apparent, downward pressure on the disc 10 will tend to separate the discs 10 and 9, it being simply necessary that this downward pressure he suilicient to overcome the pressure exerted by the spiral spring 16. lit is also evident that the tension of the spiral spring 16 may be increased or diminished, by operating the nuts 14 and M. The steam is forced into the pipe 8, and when the pressure in the pipe 8 becomes greater than the pressure exerted by the spiral spring 16,

the steam is allowed to escape between the.

cooperating horizontal faces of the discs 9 and 10, thereby being directed in a horizontal sheet with great torce against the lateral walls of the well and at right angles thereto.

The force of this steam against the lateral walls of the well will have a tendency to destroy the walls, and the steam itself will be forced back into the oil sands surroundin the walls. Similarly, the solvent which is poured into the oil well and which surrounds the valve constituted by the discs 9 and '10,

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Q incense i will he forced against the lateral walls of the oil well and into the sands surrounding the same. This super-heated steam and the solvent coming into contact with the crystallized paraffin, will dissolve or melt the same.

A continuous stream of this paraffin solvent is kept flowing into the oil well while the washing process is taking place, so that the solvent which has become saturated with the i0 paraffin is diluted by the solvent which is being poured into the well, and as the well overflows with the solvent, a solution of paraflin is carried ofi' over the top of the well, so that when the washing process is continued the solution of paraffin which remains in the well will be very weak or greatly diluted. A

' stream of water is then directed into the well out of the well beneath a certain level. The

25. air entering the well permeatesthe pores or capillary openings in the oil sands and causes a crystallization of the paraflin therein. This results in a clogging or stopping up of the passages through which the oil is accustomed to flow through the oil sands into the well. When this crystallization has taken place, the well is termed dead with the result that the'supply of oil which otherwise would be found in the well must be reached by drilling another well in the near vicinity of the dead well. By the use of the invention above described, the drilling of this well in the near vicinity of the dead well is eliminated.

By this device, there is provided a means for thoroughly. and. efiicientl unclogging the passages in the oil sands t rough which the oil is accustomed to flow, and thereby again restoring free passage to the oil into the well. This device may also be used for I the purpose of filling pockets which are formed in constructing a well in which a metallic lining or wall is not used. The metallic wall or linin of the well is frequently omitted, especlally when the well is constructed through a rock bed.. In con-.,

structing such a well however, small fragments of rock are frequently loosened from the sides of the well and it is desirable that these pockets be filled with some material impervious to the oil. To accomplish this, the invention may be used in forcing cement, or other suitable plastic mixture, into the pocket. The cement may be forced through the tubular member 8 and outwardly between the discs 9 and 10.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is cae, therefore, do not wish to be limited to' the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scolpe of the appended claims.

aving described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an. oil well cleaning device, a pipe adapted to conduct steam under pressure into an oil well; a disc secured to and projecting from the peripher of the lower end of said pipe; a disc slida ly mounted on a rod secured to said pipe; and adapted to cooperate with said first named disc for emitting the cleanin fluidlaterally against the walls of the we and means for normally holding said discs in close engagement wi each other, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described com-- prising a tubular member adapted for insertion into a well; a stem secured to the wall of said member adjacent one end thereof; and means adjacent said end of said member for directing material forced there-- through in a lateral sheet against the wall of said well, said means comprising a pair of co-operating horizontal discs, one of. which is slidably mounted upon said} stem member substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a tubular member insertible in a well, one end of said member being open; a disc exteriorly threaded to said member adjacent said end; a stem directly attached to the wallof said member; and a disc slidably mounted on said stem and adapted to engage said open end and said first mentioned disc for closing said end of said member, substantially as described.

the .other of which is fastened to said tubular 4. A device of the class'described comprieing a tubular member insertible in a well, one end of said member being open; a disc secured exteriorly to sa1d member adjacent said end; a forked stem directly attached to the wall of said member; a disc slidably mounted on said stem and adapted to engage said first mentioned disc for closing said end of said member; and resilient means on said stem for normally retaining said slidably mounted disc in closing position, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a tubular member insertible in a well, a stem having forks secured directly to the inner wall of said member adjacent one end; and a spring-held closure for said end slidably mounted on said stem, substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described comprising a tubular member insertable in a me I noeooee 34 well, one en& of said niembenbeing open; e names to this specification in the presence disc exteriorly threaded to sand member eolof two subscribing Witnesses. jwoent said end; at forked stem directly ot- EDWARD D SMITH teohed to the well of said member and e 5) disc siidoblymounted on said stem and REBAH TILLERY SMITH- ndopted-to engage and oo-operote with said Witnesses as to Edward D. Smith:

first mentioned disc to close said opening, JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs,

the eta-operating feces of said discs extend- HELEN S. LILLIS.

ing horlzontoliy for emitting steam in e Witnesses as to Reboh Tillery Smith: 31 Hetero-1 sheet against the Walls of the Well. S. C. DEAN,

In testimony whereof We have signed our W. L. Tmnmn 

